Ethiopia and Somalia are moving toward stronger cooperation after both sides agreed to solve the dispute over Ethiopia’s port access.
Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Mogadishu for discussions with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The primary focus of the talks was Horn of Africa security as well as the commencement of technical negotiations on Ethiopia’s access to Somali ports, as agreed upon in December 2024 in Ankara.
As reported, with Turkey serving as a mediator, both nations reached an agreement for a mutually beneficial commercial arrangement, granting Ethiopia access to the sea while maintaining Somali sovereignty. Somali Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Mohammed Omar stated in a recent interview that talks are ongoing, with the goal of finalizing a framework agreement by June.
That framework will determine which type of port to offer, the exact area in the Indian Ocean and the overall cost of it.
…said the minister.
Ethiopia has been landlocked since 1993, when Eritrea gained independence after a three-decade war, leaving it reliant to Djibouti’s ports.
